The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-11-04
POPULAR SCIENCE.

A sanitary engineer suggests the I'M
| portance of building on streets running
northwest and southeast, or northeast
and southwest. Sunshine in all rooms at
some time in the day can thus be in
sured, with great gain in healthfulness.
Trichine have been discovered in 8 hu-
man body which was being prepared for
anatomical demonstration at the Univer-
sity of Camerino. The man had lived
for many years in neighboring com
mune, and died without the presence OF
the trichine being suspected. Peculiar
interest attaches 10 the case for the rea-
son that it is said to be the first case Of
triehinosis ever observed in Italy.
The fact is noted that, in climates
having difference of seventy degrees in
temperature between the hot and cold
seasons, railroad track of the length Of
400 miles is some 33S yards longer in
summer than in winter; that is, though
of course the length of road remains the
same, expansion forces the metal closer
together, making an aggregate closing
up of space between the rails of nearly a
yard in each mile.
A popular fallacy, according to Mr.. A.
W. Hare, of the Royal Society of Edin-
burg, is the belief that water from q
rushing torrent is safer for drinking pur-
poses than water from a sluggish stream,
for the reverse is really the fact. Sewage
contaminated water contains fewer or
ganisms after ten or twelve days than
river water, for the reason that the
microbes rapid growth during the first
two or three days exhausts their food
supply.
The observations of Dr. Frantzel, Of
Berlin, show that The effects of immOder-
ate smoking are seldom manifested be-
fore the smoker is thirty, but that the
heart troubles most often begin between
the ages of fifty and sixty. Finer favored
cigars bring about such troubles moro
frequently and more speedily than com
mon ones. 1t may be regarded as GER
tain that the injurious action of smoking
does not depend upon the amount Of
nicotine, but upon some as yet unknown
cause.
NJ Grand Fury has propounded a
theory that coal was originally a liquid
generated by the decomposition of in
ferior vegetation in an atmosphere high
ly charged with carbonic acid. The car
bon of the jelly-like mass thus formed,
after passing through various transfer
nations into asphalt, petroleum, btu
men, etc, finally assumed the form of
coal. The author cites various facts con-
nected with the occurrence of coal, which,
he thinks, are better explained on his
theory than by the usual one
In the belief that modern science can
command climate, Dr. B. W. Richard
son proposes that British invalids be
given, in their native isles, the winter
advantages of tropical resorts This he
would accomplish by establishing winter
homes, or health palaces, each to contain
fifty or more comfortable two-story
houses, enclosing large square of orna-
mental grounds, and provided with libra
ries, baths, gymnasia, amusement halls,
etc. Flower-lined galleries, giving long
promenades, would extend over the
houses under glass roofs, while the CEN
trail enclosure would be shut in by an i'm
mense arcL of glass at q great height
above the ground Suitable heating and
ventilating apparatus would give an
equable and adjustable temperature to all
parts of the structure, and any desired
character might be impaired to the
climate. Even cloudy days need not be
known, as electric suns could be made to
shine at pleasure. In many places winter
resorts on a grander scale might be
created by putting whole valleys under
roofs of glass, forming parks Of constant
beauty and healthfulness.